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Steve, Bruce and Kevin - were working on the site of a new skyscraper.
Steve fell off and was killed instantly. As the ambulance took the body away, Bruce said: "Someone should go and tell his wife."
Kevin piped up: "OK, I'm pretty good at that sensitive stuff, I'll do it." Two hours later, he came back carrying a case of Fosters. "Strewth," said Bruce. "Where did you get that, Kev?" "Steve's wife gave it to me." "That's unbelievable...you told the lady her husband was dead and she gave you the beer?" "Well not exactly," Kevin said. "When she answered the door, I said to her: 'You must be Steve's widow'. She said: "No, I'm not a widow'. "And I said: 'I'll bet you a case of Fosters you are'." Be encouraged!GBYAY
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28. Wouldn't it be great if we could tear down all the walls that separate us, racial, social, and gender.
The apostle Paul spent his entire life trying to do just that, to tear down the walls that separated people, by bringing them to Jesus and the cross. There are no positions of superiority or inferiority at the foot of the cross, only those who discover God's power displayed in sacrifice, and God's love displayed in the face of human cruelty.
While the forces of culture and human selfishness are always finding ways to separate us, we must remember that in Jesus, and only in Jesus, we can be one.Loving Father, forgive me, when I have let discrimination and distrust keep me from fully loving those whom you have claimed as your children. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I pray that my life will be an example of deliverance and harmony, as I seek to love your children as you do. I ask this in the wonderful and mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Be encouraged!
GBYAY
ALICE and Jill were meeting up for a coffee at Starbucks. As she arrived, Alice saw that Jill was already seated at a table, but she was looking upset.
As she went over to join her, Alice said: "Hi Jill, you don't look too good. Is something up?" "Yes... my boyfriend just called on the mobile. You know how I told you he got this tip on the stock market at the office? Well, it turns out it was a con. He's lost all his money, his life savings, the lot." "Oh, that's tragic," said Alice, "You must be feeling awful for him." "Yeah, I am," said Jill. "He'll really miss me."Be encouraged!GBYAY
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. - Luke 12:6-7. In a cosmos so vast, what is our little planet? In a planet so diverse and so full of life, what are people?
Among all the billions of people alive, and those who have lived and already died, what worth do we have? Well, Jesus reminds us that our worth is great, not because we are so important, but because we are known personally by God.
We don't have to be afraid, we are known personally, and loved by the One who is, and was, and is to come! Praise His wonderful name! Loving Father, you already know my heart. You know where I struggle with sin, so empower and forgive me. You know my fears, so encourage and strengthen me. You know my immaturity, so nurture and grow me. You know my weakness and disease, so comfort and heal me. But even if these requests take time to be answered, I am still overwhelmed by the fact that you choose to know me, and for that I am eternally grateful, thank you! In the mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged!
GBYAY
A SOLICITOR was conducting a preliminary interview with a woman who'd come in to inquire about a divorce. "So," he asked, "what are your grounds?" She replied: "About four acres. Nice front garden, and a lovely pond at the bottom of the back garden."
"No," he said. "I mean, what's the foundation of your case?"
"Oh," she said, "I'm sure it's concrete, brick and mortar."
"I mean," he continued, "what are your relations like?"
"My parents still live just off the High Street, and my husband's mother's in a home."
He sighed: "Do you have a genuine grudge?"
"No," she replied. "A Ford Escort."
"Please," he tried again, "is there any infidelity in your marriage?"
"Yes, my son and daughter have stereos. They both want iPods, but we've said no."
"Madam, does your husband beat you up?"
"Yes," she answered. "Saturdays and Sundays he gets up earlier than I do."
Finally, in frustration, the solicitor asked: "Madam, why do you want a divorce?"
"Oh, I don't want a divorce," she replied. "I've never wanted a divorce. My husband does. He says he can't communicate with me."
Be encouraged!
GBYAY
Steve Irwin was buried on Saturday, there will be a public Memorial service soon...Steve Irwin was farewelled by family and friends yesterday after a private service on the Sunshine Coast.A close friend said a service was held at the Caloundra Gregson and Weight funeral home chapel and crematorium at 2pm. It is believed the service was a prelude to Irwin, 44, being buried at his beloved Australia Zoo. The friend said Caloundra City Council officials this week gave the Irwin family permission to bury the Crocodile Hunter on family land near Australia Zoo. "Yesterday's service was a service for family and good friends, people who were close to Steve in recent years," the friend said. "The council gave the family permission to bury Steve at the zoo and we think they're going to erect a monument there so visitors can continue to pay their respects." TV news reports last night speculated that Irwin's body would be laid to rest at Australia Zoo, either last night at a dusk service or after a dawn service today. Channel 9 showed helicopter footage of a white van with two police escort cars seen entering the zoo, suggesting that the vehicle was carrying Irwin's body. Earlier, Irwin's manager John Stainton told US TV network CNN: "We are having a private family service in the next two or three days, by Monday. "Then we'll start planning the memorial service which will be open to members of the public." Friends said Irwin had often expressed his desire to be buried at the zoo but family representatives would not confirm if the service had taken place. On Thursday, Irwin's father, Bob, declined an offer of a state funeral, saying the family would opt to farewell him at a private service for only family and close friends in "the next seven days".He pledged that a public memorial service would be held in the next fortnight, with Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium a possible venue.A flood of tributes from around the world continued to arrive at Australia Zoo yesterday. Mr Stainton said on CNN that the sombre atmosphere that followed Irwin's death was lifting as life got back to normal at the zoo at Beerwah, just north of Brisbane. "Steve loved this zoo, it was built for people to enjoy. We want people to come back and celebrate his life," he said. Mr Stainton said Irwin's children -- Bindi, 8, and two-year-old Bob -- were handling their father's death "really well" thanks to the strength of their mother, Terri, who had suffered some sad moments since her husband was killed by a stingray's barb while snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef in north Queensland on Monday. "They're holding up quite well," Stainton told King.
Be encouraged!
GBYAY
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. - Philippians 3:7-8. Paul had accomplished great things in his spiritual life before he became a Christian.
His commitment to God and to the Word of God was legendary. But he counted his past accomplishments as garbage, compared to knowing Christ and the grace he had received.
What he found in Jesus was salvation, not just deliverance from sin and death, but deliverance to a life of grace and power.Loving Father, thank you for your grace that delivered me from legalism, pride, egotism, sin, and hopelessness. Thank you for the excellence you have given me in Jesus. By the power of the Holy Spirit, use me to help others come to know your grace more fully. In the wonderful and mighty name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
Be encouraged!
GBYAY
